Dexcom upgrade directly monitors diabetes via Apple Watch

The Apple Watch will soon receive improved glucose tracker support for people with diabetes, according to Kevin Sayer, the CEO of Dexcom.

Sayer has reported that Dexcom has been working on a tracker which enables glucose readings to be sent directly from the company’s G6 monitor to the Apple Watch, bypassing smartphones to ensure a more efficient and responsive service system.

It is one of a series of upgrades to the G6 due within the next 12 months. “It’s coming, and this tool is great for people with diabetes,” said Sayer.

The Dexcom G6 received CE Mark approval in 2018 for treating people with diabetes aged two and above in the UK. The G6 reduces the need for finger pricking, which can be particularly upsetting for young children.

Sayer also revealed plans for a new, smaller G7 wearable system. The company is working on the project in a joint venture with Verily, which is an offshoot of Google’s parent company Alphabet.

Sayer said: “It takes a CGM and makes it much smaller. It really will be a device, we think, for the ages and a platform forever. It’s going to be wonderful.”

Apple is also reported to be working on the ability for its devices to be able to track blood glucose levels without the need for collaborations with partners like Dexcom. A dedicated Apple team of specialists is working on this as the company aims to further the health credentials of its products. The Apple Watch can detect heart conditions such as atrial fibrillatio, but it does not offer any dedicated features for people with diabetes.

Last year, Apple released new features for its Apple Watch Series 4, including new technology to enable better blood glucose control for people with type 1 diabetes, including synchronisation of One Drop’s newest Bluetooth-enabled blood glucose meter, the One Drop Chrome.